Burial vault latch



Seprt. 29, 1931.

E. HEDEEN BURIAL VAULT LATCH vFiled Jim@ 2o, 1930 vention is shown by way of illustration, but' lnot of limitation, in the accompanying draw- Patented Sept. 1931 UNIrEDsT'ATEs vPVA-"riezN'r OFFICE Emma msnm, ior Buenos, omo, vAssIGNon To CHARLES r. MICHAEL, or

i Immos, omo

, BURIAL vntmr murcia i 'Appucmon med :une so, 1930. serial no. 462,529.

This invention relates toburial vaults, but more particularly to latch means for securing the4 vault member to the platform member, and an object is to produce a simple and efficient device which is dependable for holding the vault member to the platform member, and which is accessible so that-it may be released for separating such members. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a latch of the fabove character with means for holding the latch in latching position, 'and which is also operative to'retain the latch in inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the inings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional'elevation of a portion of vault and platform members in assembled relation showing the latch in inoperative position; and.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the latch in latching position.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a vault member 1, which may be of sheet metal construction, and which is provided at its lower marginal edge with an inwardly extending liange 2, `which extends around the vault member. on a counter/sunk ledge 3 of the platform member 4. Y i

Provided at each corner of the platform is a housing having an end Wall 5, top wall 6, and side wall 7 for containing the latch mechanism. Pivoted to the side wall 7 on a pin 8 is a latch 9, generally ofitriangular shape,lwhich is provided with a latching nose f 10 adapted to project through an opening 11 .formed in the vertical wall of the platform member 4. The lower edge 12 of the latching nose'lO is 'curved for engagement with an inclined portion 13 of the vault 'flange 2, the

. arrangement being such that the inclined surface -13 engaging the curved surface 12 when the vault is lifted operates to wedge the parts tightly together to prevent disengagement of the platform member from the vault member, it being observed that the forward The flange 2 restsI edge of the'latch 9 abuts against the vertical wall'of the platform member 4. fv The rear end portion 14 of the. latch 9 is bent outwardly to lie in a plane of the latch body and at one side thereof. Pivoted to the u outer end of the portion 14 is a rod 15,'the

outer end of which extends through an open'- ing 16 in the end wall 5 of the latch housing. Encircling the rod l is a end of which abuts against a washer 18 secured to the rod 15. The opposite end .of l

the spring 17 bears against a washer 19,`

secured to the wall 5.

As shown on the drawings, the parts are so arranged that whenthe latch 9 is in latchin'g position the spring 17 holds the latch so that the nose projects outwardly through the opening 11, and the forward edge of the latch abuts against.the vertical wall of the platform. In order to retract the latch the louter end of the rod is pulled rearwardly coil spring 17, l011e which registers With the opening 16, and isl sible from beneath` the platform 4, and may be readily manipulated. When it is desired to lmove the latch from inoperative to operative position it is merely necessary to pull slightly on the rod 15 and move the latch to such position that the component force of the spring 17 moves the latch to latching position.

It is .to be, understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected Without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as `new and desire' to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a burial vault,I a platform havin a countersunk ledge around the edge thereo a vault having an inturned flange at the lower said platform, said means comprising means for ivotally mounting said a latch, atch on the undersi e of sa1d platform, a rod pivoted to said latch at a point remote from the pivotal mounting of said latch, a s rin encircling said rod adapted to hold sai late in latching position, and a plate depending from said platform having an opening to receive said rod, one end of said spring abutting against said plate, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said latch may be swung out of latchin position by said rod and upon a slight adctional movement of saidrod the component of spring force serves to hold said latch in non-latching osition.

abutting at one end against said guide and at the op osite end a inst the pivotal connection o said rod wlth said latch thereby to hold said latch in latched or 4unlatched position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto v signed my name to this s cication.

R HEDEEN.

2. In a burial vau t, a latform having a` countersunk ledge aroun the edge thereof, a vault having an inturned fi'ange at the lower edge portion thereof adapted to rest on said led e, and means for securing said vault to sai latform, said means com rising a pivoted atch carried by said plat orm and enga eable with said flange, a rod pivoted to sa1d latch having its outer end accessible for manipulation, a coil spring encircling said rod, an abutment on said rod for one end of said spring, and a stationary abutment for the opposite end of said s ring, said rod being so pivoted to said latch t at in one position the spring urges said latch to latching position, and in another position the spring urges said latch away from latching position.

3. In a burial vault, a platform having aV countersunk ledgel around the edgey thereof,-

a vault having an inturned flange at the lower edge portion thereof adapted to rest on said ledge, means for securing said vault to said platform, said means com rising a latch engageable with said inturne flange, a pivotal mounting for said latch on the underside of said platform, a rod pivoted to said latch at a fpoint spaced from the pivotal mounting o said latch and having its outer end accessible for manipulation, a relatively stationary element apertured to receive said lpivoted to said platform and having a part engageable with said flange, a rod pivotally connected to said latch at a poi-nt spaced from the pivotal mounting of said latch and having one end accessible from the under side of said platform, an apertured guide to receive thel end portion of said rod, and a spring 

